ANOTHER MILLER
THE legendary Keith Miller is revered as one of this nation’s greatest ever cricketers – and certainly its finest ever all-rounder.
A dynamic player with bat, ball and in the field combined with film star looks made him a darling of the crowds across the cricket world. Miller attracted more women and girls to watch cricket than anyone before him. Educated at Melbourne Boys High School, he was an outstanding sportsman, excelling also at Australian Rules, playing 50 games for St Kilda and representing Victoria before cricket claimed his full attention.
He stole the cricket world like a colossus for 12 years after World War II. Though he inflicted much damage on England teams, he was idolised by English crowds. A fighter pilot in the Battle for Britain, Miller served with Pommy legends Denis Compton and Bill Edrich, also Simon O’Donnell’s dad Kevin. Miller lived life to the full and was a colourful figure. On the 1948 UK tour he apparently had one-night stands with Princess Margaret and film star Vanessa Redgrave. Australian cricket has been looking for another Keith Miller for decades. A few years ago, it thought it had found one in Cameron Green but he has failed to deliver even though he is being paid $4.5 million for eight weeks in the current Indian Premier League.
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CHANGED TIMES
If you have never read the book or watched the movie How Green Was My Valley then try and do so. Richard Llewellyn’s classic told of tough times and life in the Welsh mining communities in the early 1900’s. stars of the film version were Maureen O’Hara, Walter Pidgeon and a young Roddy McDowell.
It is a story of life and love, hard work and powerful community spirit. A time when resilience and indomitable spirit were hallmarks of so many and certainly a time when people survived on little and were strong in faith and the timeless values that made the west strong. Resilience and fighting spirit are not nearly so prominent in today’s life and times. Boys and girls learned life lessons from their parents, reinforced by school teachers. Until maybe 20 years ago, teachers were allowed to teach and impart their knowledge for the benefit of their pupils. Parents supported the teachers in their vital calling. It is sad to learn that in 2025 across Australia 87 per cent of principals were verbally or physically assaulted by parents or students. It was long years ago but when my classmates or I at the bush schools got into trouble we just prayed mum and dad wouldn’t find out or it would be double trouble. It has been accepted for many generations that if youngsters experienced “tough love” at home or at school it made them better people.
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VARIA
A brilliant effort by an Ireland golfer to win the 2026 ‘Masters’ at Augusta, following on from his triumph there a year ago. A huge crowd was in attendance, and many millions followed it on TV. After 72 gruelling “holes” McIlroy triumphed by one stroke. It earned him $4.5 million.
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The little Amish boy from Lancaster County may just be praying for peace and more gentle times.
The Amish population of the county remains strong at around fifty thousand and across the USA there are more than four hundred thousand in total.
The Amish live simple rural lives based on farming. They are very family orientated and are strong in their faith.
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PASSIONATE FOLLOWERS
I met up the other day with a couple of passionate Magpie followers. Jess Bye of Kilmore and Roula Loutas of Clonbinane are friends looking forward to resuming service at the opening soon (hopefully) servo being re-stablished opposite Coles. Both ladies attend many Collingwood games and are very knowledgeable on the modern game and players. They are massive fans of the brilliant Nick Daicos. Jess and Roula are family orientated and really nice people.
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There have been big ticket sales already for next March’s 150th celebration test between Australia and England. The centenary clash in 1977 drew nearly three hundred thousand people and was a wonderful game. Australia won by 45 runs, the same margin as when the two nations first clashed in 1877 before a packed crowd of 10,000 daily at the MCG.
